There are new efforts that i will call on the legislature to adopt. However we should make our First Priority implementing the reforms we have already passed. I recently released opportunity mississippi which is my Strategic Plan for the state. In that document i outlined benchmarks for education works reforms. College and Career Readiness among High School Students has become the centerpiece of change and advancement. We must aim to reduce our High School Dropout rate a 10 by 2017. If properly implemented, the other reforms we have enacted will help us achieve this goal. Through the third grade gate we should also work to document a 20 increase in literacy attainment for the third thirdgrade students by 2017. I call on the legislature to work toward providing enough funding for this essential program to establish a ratio of one reading coach, one for every nine teachers, one reading coach for every nine teachers in our highest need classrooms. I have long been an advocate for increasing teacher salary and i believe we should pay good teachers well. In the last session i requested and you approved funding for a Pilot Program to establish a merit pay system. My Strategic Plan calls for implementing merit pay in at least 70 of mississippis School Districts by 2018. It is my hope that revenue will be sufficient to increase the current merit pay appropriation by a substantial amount and fasttrack a Pilot Program to get raises to teachers sooner. By fiscal year 2015 executive budget, like my previous budgets, has also requested that the legislature fully fund the national boardcertified teacher program. A tremendous program for mississippi teachers. Achieving this status can mean a four, im sorry as 6000dollar raids for a teacher. Some 3500 teachers in mississippi are ward certified. We are doing an excellent job of encouraging teachers to pursue certification i want to see mississippi increase its number of boardcertified teachers 25 by 2018. The bill and Melinda Gates foundation has recognized mississippis efforts in this arena and has awarded our state a grant of 350,000 to help sub ward teaching students who wish to pursue ward certification at the outset of their careers. This program should help mississippi recruit another 1000 teachers for ward certification in just the next few years. All of this will translate into a greater number of highly qualified teachers in mississippis classrooms, which means Better Outcomes for students. Finally i asked the legislature to grant the request to my executive budget recommendation to provide 1. 5 million to conduct a Pilot Program to examine the use of the a. C. T. As the High School Exit exam in lieu of other assessments. This pilot will cover the cost of the a. C. T. For every High School Junior in mississippi in the Upcoming School year. This program on not only allow us to obtain a more accurate measure of of student achievement, it will benefit students by providing them with access to a test that has practical use in their lives, use as a College Entrance exam. It will also save us money because mississippis Current Group of High School Assessments costs more than 4 million per year. Let us make this commonsense change now and get on with preparing our children for the success in the world world and stop teaching for the tests. [applause] our third objective for success should be for every mississippi and to be born into a mature two parent family. Our Healthy Teens for a better Mississippi Program has conducted Community Meetings and seminars all across the state. We have involved schools, churches, families, Health Care Professionals and most importantly teens in Community Discussions regarding decisionmaking and healthy behavior. We have started making a difference. According to the annual report for the Mississippi State department of health, our states teen pregnancy rate has dropped by 10. 3 . [applause] i believe we have also done an admirable job in protecting our children both born and unborn. By strengthening the Child Protection act and by requiring that abortion is obtained admitting privileges at local hospitals we are protecting womens health. The let me be clear, on this unfortunate day of roe v. Wade my goal is to end abortion in mississippi. [applause] now i continue to believe this is the right time and place to stand for our beliefs, our faith, our families and our nation. To strengthen our resolve i have asked that we take a bold step. And country. I have called on senator Michael Watson to introduce legislation that would change the wording of the great seal of the stated as a tzipi to nations motto. With your help, the seal of the state of mississippi will from this session forward reflect the simple yet profound words, in god we trust. [applause] [applause] thank you. As their fourth guiding principle this administration is pledged to make certain every tax dollar is put to proper and legal use. Since the budget reforms of the mid1990s many of us have supported a performancebased budgeting system that allocates resources based on results. I applaud appropriations chairman buck clark and Herb Frierson for taking steps to move our state or word any more accountable budgeting model. A change in this arena is not easy and i thank you the legislature for your leadership. Let this be the year we show the taxpayers our commitment to performancebased budgeting that rewards success and reduces wasteful spending. In my First Executive budget, i called on the legislature to reinstate the 2 satisfied and appropriate only 90 8 of available revenue. Again i applaud you for heeding the call. Your discipline has helped put more than 109 million into the Rainy Day Fund. [applause] thank you. However we can do better. As revenue collections increase, and they will, we must take this opportunity to refill the Rainy Day Fund to prepare for the future. If we leave the balance of our state savings account untouched and again adhere to the 98 rule, we can bring the Rainy Day Funds to nearly half of its statutory limit. As Lieutenant Governor i worked hard in 2008 to fill the Rainy Day Fund and was criticized by some at the time for doing so. That decision to save when we could proved crucial when we were hit by the Great Recession. Although we were forced to cut budgets those savings help desk from cutting as deeply as we would have otherwise been worse to do. Let us take that prudent position wants more and fill the Rainy Day Fund for the difficult days that could lie ahead. [applause] now i need not emphasize the importance of reducing our dependency on onetime revenue for recurring expenses. I commend the Lieutenant Governor and a speaker for, and their Leadership Teams for working with me to stop this practice. They have done a remarkable job and im confident that we can end this practice this year. As i have shown in my executive budget recommendation we can adequately Fund Government and have no onetime funding for ongoing expenditures. The taxpayers can be confident in your leadership towards this goal. This era i have asked that we add a fifth objective to our vision for the state. We must build a future where every mississippi and will be safe in his or her person and property. The foremost duty of the government is to ensure Public Safety. Seven months ago governmental leadership and stakeholders with the help of the pew Research Team produced a results driven report from corrections and criminal justice. This task force issued a comprehensive set of policy recommendations that i believe will be instrumental to reforming our criminal justice system. That task force bipartisan effort shows what we can accomplish when we are not only tough but also smart about crime. The former Deputy Sheriff and state auditor dealt with many criminals behind bars and had no regrets about doing so in necessary pear family has experienced a Violent Crime that resulted in the loss of a loved one. Ive attended funerals and memorials of slain officers and witness firsthand the pain of the mothers and the wives and families. I have no sympathy for violent criminals and i believe that any modification to the correctional system should put the victims first. [applause] they plan to expand the creation of such things as veteran treatment courts. Veterans courts to aid our servicemen and weapon who have made mistakes to get back on track. I believe leo are veterans of special attention because they more than most have earned a Second Chance for their country. As you know i have long been an advocate of drug courts and i hope you will follow the guidance in my budget recommendation and fully fund this effort. These courts provide a valuable service that helps get mississipians on the right path again. To combat serious crime in our state i have asked that you fund a Violent Crime strike force to impose a state federal and local Law Enforcement at officers these elite forces will respond to specific crime areas and hit gangs in drug dealers where they live. [applause] if you will give Law Enforcement the authority and the resources they need, they will get the job done. [applause] your Mississippi Department of Public Safety has done a remarkable job this year. With us tonight in the gallery as i find it apple ample of the selfless bravery of our troopers. Trooper first class kerpen stewart was recognized in 2012 as trooper of the year. While off duty and traveling to alabama troopers steward came upon a fiery crash. Despite the risk to himself troopers steward pulled the driver from his vehicle, extinguish the fire that was engulfing him and saved a mans life. A 20 year veteran of the United States army trooper stewart is just one example of the dedication of the fine men and women of our Highway Patrol. Trooper, thank you for your service and your sacrifice. [applause] [applause] the men and women who wear the blue and gray of the mississippi Highway Patrol remain the best of the best that they now need your help. The last Trooper School added 51 officers to a patrol that remains nearly 150 below its necessary number. This shortage puts not only the motoring public lives at risk but also those of our troopers. Now let me assure you, without more troopers on the road, people will die. Please help us fund a Trooper School this year. [applause] of all the things that make mississippi great, perhaps none is more valuable than our ability to persevere and achieve great things together. Mississipians as a whole are without a doubt the most resilient, the most passionate and the most capable people in the nation. Time and time again history proves that when we fix our focus on a goal be at repairing the damage brought by natural disasters are launching an entire new industry we are bold enough to do whatever it takes to achieve success. As governor i am honored and thankful for the opportunity to chart the course in some small way forward for hours eight. Our hard work is already yielding rewards and we are equipping ourselves with the tools to take advantage of the next opportunities that will surely come our way. I thank all of you for your help and your discernment. Even your opposition makes us better as we consider every new idea under the intensity of your gaze. But in the end, in the end it is the moving forward that keeps us together. It is the challenge of achieving the peoples will now and for the future. Before we leave tonight, i want to ask you one more thing. I want to ask that you join me in remembering the men and women of our Armed Forces Project every our National Guard for defending the freedoms that allow us to gather freely together here in this place. [applause] [applause] thank you for your hard work. Together we can do great things. God bless each of you, god bless mississippi and god bless the United States of america. [applause] now to Honolulu Hawaii for the state of the state address from democratic governor Neil Abercrombie of the states seventh governor having been elected in 2010 after serving nine years in the u. S. House. His address is half an hour. [applause] [applause] thank you everybody. You are very kind. Thank you very much. You are very kind. I felt like jay leno saying hello to jimmy kimmel. Thank you very much but before i begin can we have a big hand for our congressional delegation that are smart enough to be here rather than a shinki and where its snowing afoot right now. [applause] madam president , mr. Speaker, members of the Hawaii State Legislature former governors, distinguished justices of the courts mayors representatives congressional delegations and other elected officials, honored guest family and friends, aloha. As we began our session i asked that we set aside our political preoccupations for a moment and reflect on the privilege we have to serve in the responsibility to look to horizons beyond their own concerns. I asked that we begin today with a moment of silence to honor hawaii National Guard sergeant drew scobee who died earlier this month in afghanistan. He was 25 years old. He leaves behind his wife and his 4yearold son and another child yet to be born. Our hearts and best thoughts are with his family during this time. On march 25, the legislature will hold its joint session for the wide medal of honor ceremony to recognize Fallen Soldiers with hawaii ties. I think everyone here want to work for the day when we have no more fallen to recognize for their ultimate sacrifice, no more families to consult for their loss. Until that day i asked for us to join in a moment of silence and reflection in honor of sergeant scobee and his family. If those that are able to rise would do so and at the time may we have a moment of silence. On behalf of sergeant scobee and his family. Thank you very much. When i entered office we issued a call for a new day in hawaii. We presented and implemented a plan that has guided this administration and our state over the last three years through very difficult times. We faced hard choices and had to make tough decisions. Im grateful for this legislatures collaboration as we navigated through these troubled waters. The question before us then is what direction shall we now set our sights . Where do we see our hawaii, our people, our islands, our businesses in the future . To enter the core question we need to look no further than our island values. We must be trustees with a duty not just in the present but to the longterm future of our islands. We must be stewards with a responsibility to protect their identity are precious human and Natural Resources to become more selfsufficient. For three years we have strategically manage our resources into her chair sacrifices, made fiscally prudent decisions and have seen our economy regularly improved. This has resulted in a general fund balance of 844 million for fiscal year 2013 and historically unprecedented figure that represents a turnaround of more than 1 billion since 2010. I want to extend my appreciation to all of you in this legislature for helping to make some of those tough decisions in our Public Sector employees who made stuff sacrifices and the people and businesses of hawaii hugh faith and patience made this effort possible. Im able to report to you today our state governments financial house now stands on solid ground ground solid ground. [applause] we are entering a new phase. The administrations supplemental budget does not rely on any new taxes or fees. On the contrary, as you will see i believe we may be able to reduce taxes in key areas. We have the resources to deliver services to the people of hawaii while living within our means. And what is most important my administrations budget philosophy insurers are budget is sustainable. Our Financial Plan accommodates any fluctuations in revenue projections in the years to come. We are stabilizing future costs and expenditures. We are concluding collective Bargaining Agreement several of which are for multiple years. We have taken affirmative action in addressing our states unfunded liabilities for medical benefits for retirees and pensions, salvaging both from fiscal disaster. We are committed to strengthening the finances of the state with a plan that will their state reserves up to 10 of general fund revenues. These reserves will allow us to whether possible future economic downturns and to guard against the Public Service cup acts of the recent past. Financial rating agencies recognize our efforts and have improved their Outlook Assessment of us from negative to stable to positive. What then of the future . I shall outline a few central elements for your attention this morning and i will address other issues in more detail such as housing Agriculture Energy etc. Through messages to you in the days immediately following this address. First there is no more critical issue before us in Early Childhood development and education. I look forward to strengthening relationships with the private and nonprofit sectors by the passage of a constitutional amendment to provide for partnerships and early education. I appreciate the legislatures support last session for our expansion of the preschool open doors program. Administrative rules are nearly complete. The program envisions providing assistance to over 1200 families of 4yearold children that will no longer be eligible to attend kindergarten as of august 1 of this year. However this modest approach is not enough. Some five dollars and, 4yearolds will be affected by this change in the age requirement. Some families have the Financial Capacity to afford the average preschool rate of over 8000 per year. Many middle income families will struggle and have to make difficult choices. Most lesser income families will be precluded from the option of make any choices. We know that the early years of the childs development are crucial in setting the foundation for a childs behavior and lifelong learning. From birth to age five more than 85 of a persons Brain Development takes place. An Alarming Number of our children are injuring School Without the basics needed to succeed in school. One in three. Learning how to be behave within a group, a lesson we can all take for ourselves. Investing in our childrens early years will pay dividends down the road in the form of healthy and contributing adults, reduced crime and incarceration are less dependency on social services. We invest in our cells by investing in Early Childhood education. Our plan is to build and strengthen hawaiis next delivery Early Learning programs. Communitybased preschools are now and will be a key component. To expand access for 4yearolds we are proposing direct services in 32 classrooms across the state, half of which are on neighbor islands. We are seeking Additional Resources for family child interaction learning programs. We are proposing support for families who participate in the preschool open doors. These requests total approximately 8 million. Our plan is targeted, aimed at helping those who otherwise have little or no options. These initial investments will serve an additional 1040 children and their families. I realize this is an election year. Political agendas and ambitions are being formulated but let us take children out of the equation. Let us resolve, all of us to be champions of children. You have my pledge in my word on that. [applause] our unemployment has improved to the fifth lowest in the nation. Three years ago the Unemployment Compensation trust fund was practically bankrupt. Our progress over the last three years has allowed us to reduce the Unemployment Insurance tax rates for 2014 by 35 . Employers will pay 130 million less in taxes or 300 less per employee on average for 2014. A hardworking sector in our community has gone seven years without seeing their wages rise. Therefore i will be proposing a bill to increase the minimum wage by 1. 50 to at least 8. 75 starting in january 2015. [applause] average Weekly Earnings have increased 16 since 2007. For minimumwage workers, its zero. Currently 21 other states plus the District Of Columbia have higher minimum wage rates than hawaii while our minimumwage earners are confronteconfronted by much higher living costs. It is a myth that increases to the minimumwage just benefits entrylevel workers, mostly teenagers. In hawaii 85 of minimumwage workers are 21 years old or older. The last four times the minimum wage was raised on average the number of jobs increased by 2. 2 over the following 12 months. 20 of our children under six years of age, over 22,000 children live in lowincome working families, low income working families. Im aware that the issue of the hospitality and Restaurant Service was on the stumbling block last year. I am prepared to accept a reasonable accommodation. Employees waiting tables at chucks steakhouse have the opportunity to add to their income. Minimum wage earners cannot offset any development. Lets move quickly and resolutely on this issue. [applause]. By giving support for the Housing First program, chronically homeless and disability. Housing first is an Evidence Based Program currently being used in denver, seattle, and you tell which is established in providing housing and support services and saving taxpayers money. When i took office many serve the sentences out of state. The alternative program. In addition, it often decrease the chances of rehabilitation of prisoners who were away from their family. No plans of commitment to to do otherwise. Nearly two dozen primers to the prisoners. We reduce that number by 600. Suddenness to live more prisoners will be coming home. Thank you. But clearly we need additional facilities. Most of our current structures are deteriorated over capacity and poorly designed. They have procured a comprehensive plan to build facilities with sufficient capacity to keep prisoners to present a danger to our Community Properly incarcerated and to provide give him programmatic options will keep pair communities safe. A personal note of gratitude permian alive. Implementing a Domestic Workers bill of rights. The second such law in our nation. Headlines mar around the world as recently have a picture of exploitation and degradation. Well also strengthened laws against Domestic Violence and human trafficking. Thanks to all of you the intense work of the attorney generals office, the department of labor and industry relations, civil rights commission, and the office of community services, these crimes against our common humanity will not be tolerated. Now there are times for planning in times for action. No is the time to preserve open space. Expansive joy out for decades. Permitting. Whether the cause is permitting proceedings in the national community, this issue has been divisive and destructive. A Conservation Movement of more than 600 acres. It guarantees these lands will remain open and free of development and open to Public Access and perpetuity. [applause] similarly i am requesting general Obligation Bonds to and it will cease to work with the renewal will Energy Company to purchase agricultural and a conservative conservation lands currently owned. Nearly 20,000 acres of open space and the north shore of oahu. Need to make this investments so that they do not become a plantation for development and organization. Moreover, this purchase will ensure a combination of Energy Production and contemporary farming. We look to the best place on the planet to observe the universe. It is without fear. Eleven countries and over a billion dollars in infrastructure. One project will solidify the position of why on the worlds premier astronomy center. The 1 billion telescope. A catalyst for the development of hightech and highpaying jobs. Half presently partner in with the institute of astronomy Work Force Initiative to train local College Students for technical fields it also is investing 1 million every year to education so that our children can reach for the stars. Our state must support and ensure the tremendous opporunity that comes to fruition. [applause] this leads us to the reality of Climate Change which is becoming more and more evidence. Especially vulnerable and they cannot wait to act. In the fall i was appointed by president obama to serve on the state, local, and travel leader task force on climate preparedness and resilience. And our first meeting governors, mayors, and tribal leaders from around our country discuss the effects of Climate Change. Our geographic, topographic, and community differences. Warning bells signaling the necessity for prepared this now. We emphasize that the Hawaiian Islands are a learning laboratory for scalable integrated meditations and techniques that provide a model of local and regional collaboration. The state office of planning has been instrumental in coordinating efforts to update our ocean Resources Management plan. Stay sustainability coordinator with the story to work across department lines. The senate and House Majority includes the hawaii climate Annotation Initiative which supports research, planning, and coordination. The Interagency Climate Council plays a key role in this initiative. I will be convening to engage stakeholders, native hawaiian organizations, Natural Resources management, tourism officials, agricultural representatives, researchers and government at all levels. Creating a Climate Change road maps for why. [applause] protection of our environment from Invasive Species must be a top priority. We are experiencing a biological crisis and deadly threat to our isolated ecosystem. Natural resources and economy. A multitude of invaders such as the fire and that can blind animals, the cocoanut rhinoceroses and parasites attacking coffee crops to illustrate the seriousness of this issue. The work of the interagency hawaii Invasive Species was tasked with combating this. Your legislative initiatives imposing of the 5 million to meet operating costs of Invasive Species. This session, my administrative package will include an administrative assess the strategy to include clean energy development, local food production, Natural Resource management, waste reduction, smart grove and housing for the working middleclass. This includes funding to support watershed protection, farming infrastructure, Invasive Species management, clean waste recycling, a transportation planning, and creating jobs associated. Early in my remarks [applause] thank you. Early in my remarks i commented on the necessity of providing preschool education as a foundation for the future of our children. That observation needs to be booked in it by consideration of ways to promote security and dignity on the other end. Those of us like myself experiencing senior years, not only do we need to protect seniors from fraud and abuse and assist with issues, i believe we can provide tax relief measures that will have practical and immediate benefits for seniors. I will be asking the legislation to look at the way we tax seniors in order to provide more equity and fairness for those on fixed incomes to see that more money remains in their pocketbooks. [applause] the web we look and tax Retirement Income, i understand the message on Pension Income in taxation. If you have an employer sponsored pension it is exempt from income tax, and that will not change. Everyone may not be aware that other pensions not employer based of being taxed right now. Thousands of seniors are paying income tax even on low and middle income benefits. I propose to exempt any income from all sources that taxpayers age 65 and older with an adjusted gross income of 25,000 adjusted gross income of 35,000 for heads of household and then adjusted gross income of 45,000. [applause] the seniors will not have the Retirement Income tax. This will affect as many as 25,000 or more seniors. And also proposed to double the current food excise tax for taxpayers 65 years older who ag i is less than 50,000. A direct payment to the senior taxpayer which will affect as many as 110,000 seniors or more. [applause] i am also requesting the increase of four and a half million dollars. This program enables seniors to receive care in their home and is an investment that will pay big dividends as our senior population ages and lives longer. [applause] these proposals, my friends, address the practical everyday reality. Across the board fairness and application and can take effect immediately and fit comfortably in the to our longterm plans. I began my remarks today in sad recognition of the sacrifice. I have spoken of other sacrifices we have made or need to make an analogy your responsibility into a trance the common good of gasol. Please allow me to conclude my thoughts today with reflection on the passing. It is difficult even now more than a month from bath to accept the finality because of the vitality of our presence. I also know that she would remind us of the biblical admonition that life is for the living, the duty to carry on, to offer help and encouragement to others. I would like to thank the university of Hawaii Foundation first setting of the memorial scholarship, health, human, and Public Services which will provide a lasting legacy, those who are committed to pursuing a career in health and public and human services. Lifelong supporter of publichealth measures, lifelong advocate for families and children. She set the standard for helping those in dire need of services and promoted their health and wellbeing. I am requesting additional funding for the Early Intervention services. The Program ProvidesCritical Services to children with developmental delays. The Program Provides positive intervention in the crucial areas of cognitive and physical function, social and Emotional Wellbeing and adaptive skills. There are, of course, several budget request, all of which are important Early Intervention services. There will be lasting benefits for families and children. They should love. None of us knows with any certainty how much time will be given, but we do know that the time given us as Public Servants is a public trust. We justify that only by the Public Interest. The Financial Stability we have achieved a will with our longterm plan presents us with the opportunity to act both with confidence and wisdom. Public trust in the Public Interest can be joined. Endo local news outlets reported on the comments. Credit for the state public the surplus should be shared. In reaction to the governor not calling for new taxes. He suggested a tax credit for the states senior citizens. I like senator reid as a person. We have had many good conversations and then trying to figure out a way that i can do things with the senator which means we do not agree on every issue but we try to narrow the issues. A said the same thing to president obama. There are something is that we do agree on. Us try to narrow the focus. I will give you an example. Both parties sorry about jobs going overseas, our economy, and joblessness. We could do is let american profits from American Companies has come back and a lower tax rate. Lets not try to make it part of some enormous bill a sick a few items. Lets take this. A Work Together. We can pass that next week. You can watch the entire interview next sunday today at 6 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan2. Youre watching cspan2 with politics and Public Affairs weekdays. British Prime Minister talks about the potential separation from the United Kingdom. Sunland will hold a referendum to decide whether or not the kutcher remains a part of the u. K. Speaking from Queen Elizabeth olympic park the Prime Minister spoke against the idea highlighting the economic and political implications of the potential separation. [applause] they cue for that introduction this is a fantastic forwardlooking university, and we are grateful for your support as we are for hosting us in this magnificence base. Less than two years ago this was a cauldron of excitement. I had a seat. I only use the edge. For me the best thing about the index was not the winning but the red, white, and blue. Was this summer that patriotism came out of the shadows and came into the sun. Everyone is cheering as one. I want to talk about today, our United Kingdom. Last year that date of the Scottish Referendum was fixed, the countdown set. Today we have just over seven months until at about. Centuries of history in the balance. A question mark hangs over the future of our United Kingdom. People vote yes in september this government will become an independent country. It will be no going back. As i have made clear this is a decision that is squarely for those in scotland to make. I believe passionately that it is in their interest to stay in the United Kingdom. That waste, and as the space to take decisions of still having the security it comes with being part of something bigger. They can decide what happens in every hospital, school, police stations, and then the United Kingdom. Part of a major global plan. Those are the arguments that we will keep on putting until september 18th. It is their choice, their votes to. By argument today, while only 4 Million People can vote in this referendum 603 million of us are profoundly affected. 63 million of us can wake up on september the 19th in a different country with the different future head of us. That is why this beach is addressed not so much the people of scotland but to the people of england, wales, Northern Ireland within these countries there are the whole range of different use there are those that i would call the quite patriots, people who love the United Kingdom, love our flag in their history but think there is nothing much that they can do to encourage this government this day in the u. K. They stay at of the debate. Then there are additional new shares, people who have ambivalence hitting this does not matter much. Error view is that if someone left the u. K. And that would be sad, but we could just wave in a wishful goodbye and carry on as normal. And then there are those, only a few who think we would be better off his government did leave the u. K. The marriage of nations has run its course and needs a divorce. Today i want to take on all of these use, the eddy that we would be better off and this makes no difference to the rest of the u. K. And the idea that however much we might care we can have a voice in this debate because we dont have a vote. All of the above are wrong. We would be deeply diminished without scotland. This matters to all of our futures. Everyone in the u. K. Can of the voice. I want to make this case by putting forward a for compelling reasons why the United Kingdom is stronger with scotland within it. First, in our connections with each other over three centuries we have lived together, worked together, and frankly getting married, having children, moving back and forth across our borders. Such is the fusion of about one the piggyback to the west highlands. I was proud of my heritage as a. M. Of my english and welsh heritage. The name cameron. Let us unite to which exactly what our island and nations have done. Today 800,000 scouts live elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Four dozen people like the farmers in lincoln, United Kingdom, millions of relationships are more than three centuries. That is why for millions of people there is no contradiction sometimes of wants. Some say that none of this would change with independence. These connections would state the strongest ever. The fact is all of these connections whether it is business or personal ice strengthened by the institutional framework of the United Kingdom. With the axe of union were passed a room in the state was limited. Since then the state was transformed beyond recognition. Our institutions have grown together at the roots of great trees fusing together under the foundations of our daily lives. You dont need a customs check. You dont have to get out your passport. You dont have to deal with totally different tax systems and regulations. You dont have to trade in different policies. How human connections. Underpined be his marilyn the same United Kingdom which is the number one reason why we are stronger together. The second is our prosperity. Some people look at the United Kingdom only in terms of debit and credit, tax and spend and getting split between formation. Thats completely misses the bigger picture. Is not about what we would lose if we pulled apart, but about what we can gain in this world if we stay together. This government is set out a longterm economic plan for britain. Getting behind enterprise, dealing with our debt, a plan to give the people of this country peace of mind and security for the future. And it is not just a plan, it is a vision. The United Nations and the big european Success Story of this century. Moving for the island sinking under too much debt, too much borrowing, too much taxation to a country that is dynamic, exporting, ib innovating, creating. Its at the heart of the vision. Why . I can give you the list of scottish strength. The Great Industries from Food Processing to Financial Services from ship building to science. But it is not about scotlands strength some sort of extra. Its about what we, the constituent part of the United Kingdom can achieve together. A power of collaboration. It is there in our past when the scottish enlightenment met the Industrial Revolution intellectual endeavor and commercial mite combined to shape Global Economic ideas. And that power of collaboration is there today. Together were stronger at getting out there and sending our product to the world. Take skosh whiskey. Whether im in india or china, there is barely a meeting abroad when i dont bang the drum for whiskey abroad. Now, of course the minister fights hard for the deal to. But the clout we have as a United Kingdom give off a better chance in getting around the right table, bashing down the trade barrier, getting the deal signed. And the result scotch whiskey adds 135 pounds to the balance every single second. Together were stronger to lead in the industries of the future. Take green energy. We have the wind and the waves of scotland. Decades of experience and the rest of the uk the Domestic Energy market to drive and support the new industries. Two years ago, we set up the Green Investment bank based in eden borrow invested across the u. K. This is what happens when we collaborate. We have come through the Great Recession together. A deficit down our economy growing. Our exports to china doubled. And i believe we stand a much, much better chance of building a prosperous future together. Now the third reason were stronger together is our place in the world. Together we have a seat of the u. N. Security council in nato and europe. The press teeing to host events like the g8. Together we have the finest armed forces on our planet. I think the fighter pilot, originally operating who flew them over libya. The legendary scottish title is i think on the shipyards where alongside shipyards in the rest of the u. K. They are building the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier. Launching this year to secure the sea and keep us safe. To some if might sound Like National vanity. Its the view if the u. K. Split up in the world strength would it matter so much . This is a country that earned the living through the international ties. With millions of our citizens living abroad. When ships are ambushed on the seas that hits our trade. When the middle class in china is set to grow by millions a year it presents huge opportunities for our jobs back home here in the u. K. The world shapes us. So our place in the world that really matters. And make no mistake, we matter more as a United Kingdom politically, militarily diplomatically and cultural too. And our reach, our reach is about so much more than military might. Its about our music, our film, our tv, our fashion. The u. K. Is the soft power super power. You get tokyo and sydney. Listening to emily. You get people in caseic tan kazakhstan and taiwan watching bbc. Written bay scot 100 years ago. Played by an an englishman today and created for tv by a scottsman. The worlds service. Transmitting to hundreds of millions. Famously staid helped her through her long years of detention saying everywhere ive been, the bbc has been with me. And the bbc itself founded by a scotsman. My wife is an ambassador for the British Fashion council. She sees and raves a about the International Impact of our fashion. Helped along by scottish designers. Sometimes we can forget how big our reputation is. That the world over the letters u. K. Stand for unique, brilliant, creative, excentric, genius. We come as a brand and powerful brand. Separating scotland out of the brand would be like separating the water of the river and north sea. If we lost scotland, if the u. K. Changed we wouldnt rip the rug from our own reputation. The fact is we matter more in the world if we stay together. These are all, i believe, compelling, practical reasons for the United Kingdom stick together. The institutional questions, thats not really what its about for me. Its about the slave who escaped his master after the American Revolution because he was offered liberty and land by the british crown. In gratitude he named himself this. British freedom. Its about lord on the beach of d day. Ships plowing through the gray seas for 8,000 miles to the islands and for what . For freedom. Because this is a country that has never been by bumlies and dictators. Its a country that stands for something. This, really, is why im standing here today. Our shared values. Freedom, solidarity, compassion, not just overseas but at home inspect this country, we dont walk on by when people are sick. When people lose work, when people get old. I know, when you talk about an englishman, a scotsman, northern irishman. It mind sound like the beginning of bad joke. Its actually how we started our nhs. Our welfare system, our state pension system. These values theyre not trapped in the pages of a history book. Theyre alive when the people of benghazi were crying out for help, when a girl in pakistan was shot for wanting an education, when children around the world are desperate for food or aid, we dont walk on by. And lets be clear, our values are not just a source of pride for us. Theyre a source of hope for the world. In 19 4eu6r, Nelson Mandela stood in the dark in the supreme court. He was making the case for his life against apartheid. In the speech he invoked the example of britain. He said i have Great Respect for british Political Institutions and for the country system of justice. He said i regard the British Parliament as the most Democratic Institution in the world. Our parliament, our lords, our way of life. So often down century the u. K. Has given people hope. We have shown that democracy and prosperity can go hand and hand. That resolution is found now through the bullet but the ballot box. Our values are of value to the world. In the darkest times times in Human History there has been in the north sea a light that never goes out. And if this family of nations broke up something very powerful and very precious the world over would go out forever. So there is a moral economic geopolitical diplomatic and yes, lets say it proudly emotional case for keeping the United Kingdom together. Still, however strongly we feel. We can be a red sent nation. It can seem vulgar to fly the flag. Some people have advised know stay out of this issue and dont get too sentiment l about the u. K. I care too much to stay out of it. This is personal. I have an old copy of our island story. My Favorite Book as a child. I want to give it to my three children and i want to be able to teach my youngest when shes old enough to understand that she is a part of this great story. I hope that my children will be able to teach their children the same thing. That the stamp on their passport is a mark of pride. Together the islands really do stand for something more than some of our part. They stand for bigger ideal, noble causes, greater values. Our brilliant, United Kingdom. Brave, brilliant, buccaneering, generous, tolerant, proud. This is our country and we have built it together. Brick by brick. Scotland, england, wails whales, Northern Ireland. Brick by brick. This is our home. I could not bear to see it torn apart. I love this country. I love the United Kingdom and all it stands for. I will fight with everything i have to keep us together. And so i want to be clear to everyone listening. There can be no come play saint sei about the result of this referendum. The outcome is still up in the air. And we have just seven months to go. Seven months to do all we can to keep our United Kingdom as well. Seven months to save the most extraordinary country in history. And we must do whatever it takes. So to everyone england, whales, and Northern Ireland. Everyone like me who cares about the United Kingdom. You dont have a vote but so you a voice. Those voting theyre our friends, theyre our neighbors. Theyre our family. You do have an influence. Get on the phone. Get together, email, tweet, speak, let the message ring out. From us the people of scotland let the message be this. We want do you stay think of what weve done together. What we can do together. What we stand for together. Team gb. The winning team in the history of the world. Let us stick together for a winning future too. Thank you. [applause] thank you. Time for some questions and points from those in the audience from the lady in blue. In [inaudible] people have been told to leave their home in the middle of night. Many people are cut off because of the floods. Why is the government still not going grip on what is happening there . Well, we are doing everything that we can. I chaired the conan yesterday evening. Progress is being made. We have allowed extra money to go to flood deferences. We will start dredging as soon as we can. We have the army helping out the Environment Agency including in other part of the country. I spoke personally to the Gold Commander running the operation. All of the things that we can do to help people whether it is helping people get out of their homes, whether help protecting essential infrastructure. Whether in the case yesterday a question of moving cattle off the land. Well do everything question to help coordinate what is still a very difficult and situation. I would like to they this opportunity to pay tribute to people from the Environment Agency to flood ward tonight police to the Emergency Services to volunteers to the military who have been working around the clock to try and deal with this issue. And well keep on doing whatever it takes holding those, coordinating all the activity, investing the necessary money. Bringing military assets where necessary. Everything that needs to be done will be coordinated will be done. Lady over here. Fashion and retail in scotland and they made have a significant role in the wonderful British Heritage that cashmere and textile manufacturing. Do you agree that now is the time for scotland instead of arguing among themselves we should be combining our resources and tackling the french and italian and sustaining global competition. I think its a good point how we are stronger and more prosperous together. Fashion is a classic example. As i said in my speech theres brilliant scottish fashion designers making a huge contribution to British Fashion. We are going to punch more forcely if we Work Together and take on the great fashion houses and the italian and french have the strength of the great britain, uk brand bhient us is a huge source of strength. We are being hosted by university that set up a school in london to bring together the best of the british. I think it is a good example. Exactly what you say. Gentleman over here. Theres a brand new about to open [inaudible] can i ask why you are making the speech in london and not there. Im going to be making a number of visits to scotland this year to make speeches and disappoints in the important debate about the future of our country. I want people in scotland to know that the rest of us in the United Kingdom are not looking the other way, walking on by thinking, well, it will be interesting what decision you make. We care passionately. We want you to stay. I think its important the people in scotland understand that the rest of the family see this as a very important family decision. And well all feel less about ourselves, about our country, about our family if scotland voted to become separate. That is why it is important to make this speech here in london. I scrolled made it any other part of england, whales, northern Northern Ireland. Ill be in scotland. Im taking the entire cab known scotland to make the arguments there too. Let have one more question. And the gentleman in the back. [inaudible] the scotland [inaudible] Prime Minister, the Scottish National party is arguing for an end to Political Union with United Kingdom. What, in your opinion, are the Political Institutions that can only be served within the union and wont work with without the union . I think the way you put the question is the way i think sometimes the first miner steer is trying to say. There a lot of unions between england and scotland. And really, im just trying to make a small change to the thing called the Political Union. If scotland votes to celebrate itself from the rest of the United Kingdom. Thats what it will become. I think it will be tragic. Well go through the individual institutions and issues and jobs whether it is talking about defense or Financial Services or what have you. I think a lot of attention is being paid for particularly to the issue of the currency. And i think it would be extremely difficult to make a Currency Union work between an independent separate scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom. All of these institutional questions are really arguing for separation. He needs to answer the questions about separation. And yet the white paper really didnt answer the questions at all. For those of us who believe in the United Kingdom, we should be making this positive argument about how these institutions work for all of us together. And of course, we have an extra strength in our argument. All of those who the president should all both know because voting no to separation leaves open for the possibility of deevolution. Where as voting yes for separation means the process of it is at an end. I think its an important point for people to bear in mind. Theres been a huge pleasure to come today. An enormous pleasure to make the speech which i have wanted to make so passionately. I hope that comes across. All of us we may not have a vote. We care passionately about the outcome. I want people to know how passionate we feel. I think if you scratch an englishman or a northern irishman underneath the surface underneath the surface is a deep and passionate pride in our United Kingdom. We felt it here on that night in the room when it was hotter than it is today. Actually we feel it every day. We will be diminished if scotland were to leave our extraordinary successful and remarkable family. Thank you very much, indeed. [applause] on the next washington journal. Watch our program on First Lady Laura Bush saturday at 7 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan. And watch our recent interview with mrs. Bush at 8 30 and live monday night our series continues. I think its all an evolutionary process. You grow in to this role, and my sense is that you never get comfortable if youre always pushing for change in growth. Not just in yourself but the issues you care about. Im now here and i can do this the same way all the time. Its always changing. First Lady Michelle obama monday night at 9 00 p. M. Eastern. Live on cspan and cspan 3. Also on cspan radio. And c span. Org. Next a situation in south sudan as the country deals with violent protests after a public dispute between the countrys leader. The Africa Center for Strategic Study hosted the event. Its a little less than two and a half hours. [inaudible conversations] good morning. Everybody hear me . Im mike im the acting director for the Africa Center. Its my pleasure to welcome you to National Defense university and the Africa Centers round table discussion on south sudan. The africas centers mission is two fold. Engage effort with partner states and institutions to a focus and rigorous academic outreach program. For the strategic capacity and foster longterm collaboration partnership. Weve been doing this for 15 years. I think we have become an honest broker a good friend of our african partners and certainly with the secretary of defense. We have achieved a level of support and recognition for that level of support for this the strategy and policy developed a process. We also conduct in part of this part of today is conducting policy Relevant Research on africas Security Issues and facility a dialogue within the policy community on africas security. And this, today, is certainly a key piece of that. These round Table Discussions facilitate a very important dialogue in south sudan, today, and actually over the past many years has risen and fallen in the crest of Critical Issues facing our policy makers for africa security. But today was taking place in both sudan is critically important. And joe seeing m, our director of research has put together a tremendous panel of scholars, practitioners, and Senior Leaders to discuss this with you. This is a dialogue, its a twoway communication. We encourage the complete dialogue and communication that will take place. We hope to take place. We are very honored to have the very distinguished panel of speakers with us today. Especially i would like to recognize ambassador donald boothe. A good friend of the Africa Center. The u. S. Special envoy to sudan and south sudan. We werent sure he was going to be able to with us. He was on the list, off the list, on the list. I think it was even as of yesterday we were able to break away and come be part of this mornings session. So, ambassador, thank you for your continuing support to the Africa Center. We hope it helpful to you in your very important mission. My job is to open this to make very short comments. We want the dialogue to continue and to be robust. And so i would like to turn this over to dr. Joe seeing l. Our director of research who will moderate todays program and be with you all day. Thank you, and again, welcome to the Africa Center. Okay. Thank you very much, mike. My name is joe. Im the director of research here at the Africa Center for strategic studies and i would also like to extend my welcome to everybody for coming out this morning. I would like to ease certainly especially recognize those when the committee who are hear with here with this us morning notably ambassador from south sudan. Thank you very much, sir, for being here today. One administrative issue before we get started. Theres been a change in our program from the last transition that you would have received. One our guest who was to to be on the second panel coming from africa had some issues getting here. And so he isnt going to be able to join us. And as a result we decided just to consolidate the two panels. Were going go with one panel this morning. Its going to be a twohour panel. Well just go all the way through have each speaker speak fifteen or 20 minutes. Well open it up for questions and comments for the broader discussion. All right. The worlds youngest country has suffered a major setback in the nation building efforts since the outbreak of fighting in december of last year. The cost this conflict has been as disaifting as it has been swift. Thousand of people have been killed. There are hundreds of thousand of people who lost their lively hoods. 865,000 people have been displayed according to the u. N. And theres an estimated 3. 5 Million People who will be in need of Food Assistance between now and june of this year. The finding has also torn as the social fabric. Divisions there have been destroyed. And theres been a fracturing of the political and govern mans institutions that were evolving. Stemming the has been diplomatic efforts in the region, and by international partners. This resulted in the sensation of hose stillty agreement of january 23rd. And it is continuing with efforts to sign a longer term ceasefire Peace Agreement that continued to be the focus of attention now. And because of the criticalness of the issues, that will remain the focus of most International Tension in south sudan in the coming days. We organized the round table today to look forward beyond the immediate Critical Issues to look over the horizon about what is coming next. And in other words, under the myriad of challenges that south sudan faces today, what are some of the Strategic Priorities we should be focusing on over the next six months to two years that will help south sudan to achieve stability in the sustainable manner. Hes a member of the senior foreign service. Hes served previously as the ambassador to zambia as well as to siberia, and prior to that, hes held many diplomatic posts within the state department including within the bureau of international and organizational. He was the director of the office of african affairs. He was the Deputy Director for the office of Southern Africa affairs. Hes been a division chief for Bilateral Trade Affairs at the state department. With that, let me turn it over to ambassador. Thank you very much. Good morning. Thank you for coming. Thank you for the interest in south sudan. I think that we really are terribly, terribly disappointed that three years after the historic referendum for independence and nine years since the signing of the comprehensive Peace Agreement that south sudan, again, is driven by conflict. Only this time the conflict is not with the government in cartoon but it is a conflict in itself. The fact that south sudan faces internal challenges is not of i. T. Surprising. I think to anyone here today. Interpolitical tensions have been building for months. Political space, and space for Civil Society have been shrinking since independence. Intercommunal tensions have been long standing and the countrys institutions understandably weak. Nevertheless, the speed with which this conflict escaladed once the event of the night of the december 15th occurred. Was, i think, astonishing. The conflict devastating for the people of south sudan. And for those of us in the International Community in the hope of seeing it escape the terrible cycle of violence that marked its past. The sensation of hostility agreed upon by the party on january 23rd was a critical step. Unfortunately, the fighting continues in south sudan. Were deeply concerned about the reports of fighting particularly in unity states. This includes the recent spla or Government Force attack on leer, which is the hometown of the former Vice President and opposition leader. Its extacted a terrible price who face some of the most daunting Development Challenges in the world. The numbers are grim. We may never know the exact number of cawcialtties. Thousand have been killed. The International Crisis group a few weeks ago gave an estimate of 10,000. It could be well above that. Atrocities continue to be reported in cemented women and children alike. Now we must not lose focus or allow momentum to faded. We are making progress not only on implementing the occupations let what the key issues that must be addressed to return to stability and a path to development. The cessation of this, as i said, must be implemented and monitored. In order to create meaningful and inclusive political dialogue and create the security conditions. It will allow the 10 of the population that has fled their homes to be able to return. We welcome the arrival of the advance team of the joint Technical Committee of the monitoring and Verification Mechanism which arrived this past week. And it will help establish the monitoring teams which will allow both sides a mechanism to report reaches of the hostility agreement. We continue to urge all parties in conflict the conflict to help facilitate the important work of these teams. But i must say that im concerned that the government may intend to obstruct some of the initial deployment of the monitoring mechanisms. And it is also limiting the full deployment of other units that are moving into south sudan. It is critical that these institutions have unfettered access and south sudan to fulfill the mandate and the monitoring here and this cessation of hostilities and importing of Human Rights Violations and the protection of civilians and the situations that we have seen. The those that have been a part of his need this need to be held accountable and we need to invest in the reconciliation process that can support the political dialogue in the form going forward. The African Union is currently establishing a commission of inquiry for south sudan which we believe will serve as an important and credible mechanism to ensure accountability for atrocities and we urge that this mechanism move forward expeditiously and although the period of fighting this may have been relatively short compared to other contemporary conflicts in the region, the root of the crisis runs incredibly deep and meaningful political dialogue between the two sides and a long with broad representation of others must begin immediately. And this includes it quick fix of political accommodation with a recipe for renewed conflict in short order. And there are thousands of sudanese who are the real victims of violence. And this addresses the current causes of the underlying conflict along with the ambassadors and ambassador susan page and the National SeniorSecurity Director smith and harris, deputy secretary of state burns and linda thomas greenfield, we have all traveling throughout the region and this includes past and present officials this includes the broader dialogue between the two sides the mediation of effort has been incredible and i think that it has been extremely valuable in ensuring the effectiveness of that mediation after. He is the foreign minister of 20 years and the mediator of the epa general from kenya. So we have been engaged with other diplomatic partners as well including the European Union and china that have all been engaged with their envoys this includes addressing the root of the problem. It is also unanimous that outside party should not take any steps to escalate the conflict will regionalize the conflict. As this crisis begins to unfold, we proposed that the Security Council is unanimously adopting an authorization do should our mission in south sudan. In turn we are actively encouraging Member States to provide additional troops and Foreign Police units to that nation. Including other nations in the region where they can be spared. These additional troops have begun to arrive and we have also committed the u. S. Humanitarian assistance created to address the conflict in the coming days. And this includes south sudan in the region we will continue to support the mediators in carrying out their mandate as instructed by the communications of the heads of state on the 31st of january. And they will develop a framework for the next phase in negotiations and south sudan, including specific modalities on structure and representation in time for bed so as to ensure dialogue is truly inclusive and such a framework is developed including a reinvigorated constitutional process. Further the communique falls under mediators to organize a series of consultations with a wide range of south sudanese actors with the aim of generating input with a framework of political dialogue and national reconciliation. I have urged the mediators to undertake this quickly and as the communique notes, this includes traditional and religious leaders representing women and intellectuals and refugees and business communities and other stakeholders. And on the same time, we have urged the government to open political space for greater inclusion. And especially those who remain in kenya should be able to enlarge the discussion in those seeking construction Constructive Solutions to resolve the catastrophe in south sudan. Let me conclude by saying that i am concerned that the crisis in south sudan still has the potential to escalate further. This crisis is truly a failure of the south sudanese Political Leadership on all sides. Institutions that were weak or allowed to stagnate while the political environment will power an ever shrinking political space. Development efforts were given to these ambitions and the government attempted to quell violence. In this includes historical grievances against other communities and political grievances due to real or perceived representation and disproportionate political influence while we do not know the scale of the atrocities committed that far, there is evidence of the killings have taken place and this includes all of those would south sudanese backgrounds to and when they voted for independence in sudan. Just as each had retribution, each step towards peace offers the chance to rebuild. Breaking the cycle and ensuring that africas newest nation continues to move forward rather than backwards. With the highest priority of the United States and the International Community. This includes wisdom throughout the crisis and i look forward to hearing what the other panels have to say. Thank you very much. Ambassador booth, you started us off very strongly and you let us to where we wanted to go with the rest of the panelists. The ambassador makes the point that the challenges are deepseated. And as a result theyre going to require fundamental changes. We cannot just go back to business as usual if we expect to see stability and that is really where you want to pivot now and start to look forward to what has changed and where do things need to go with our other panelists as well. And so now we turn to the director of the institute of south sudan that will Marymount University and he is working as an aid and Development Work early in his career. And he is the author of numerous articles and with Political Violence and politics and he is the author of three books including the sudanese race religion and violence. Please go ahead. Thank you very much. Thanks to the Africa Center and thank you for giving up your morning to talk with us here about south sudan. And i think looking forward requires reflection on how we got here. Let me suggest a few stabs that we can take to move forward. What happened in south sudan in 2013 was shocking on all accounts but not surprising to those who have been watching south sudan. It was a referendum of independence that was very visibly in the making for the last eight or nine years. [inaudible] many wars were left untreated, and those wounds would be to tackle the end mended. For example the former Vice President who we now have as the leader of the ongoing rebellion, [inaudible] they became involved in extremely violent episodes of confrontations among themselves as well as between the civilians and the liberation army. What had left behind is gaping wounds in the hearts and minds of the south sudanese, something that would be to be tackled sooner if the independence came. Many episodes of violence between ethnical communities have intensified after the cpa and independence. The need to forge a consolation between the community and to mend those situations that were created were evidenced all three of. This was not done to the military itself and the National Defense force. It is the biggest institution in south sudan and the most expensive institution it estimates anywhere between 45 and 60 of the National Expenditure but it is also the most dysfunctional of the institutions. To the extent that the Sudanese Security force has been a source of insecurity and the rule of the party, the nations Biggest Party has gone down to a oneparty system. But it has remained unwilling or unable to transform itself into a democratic party. What many contentions and contentious issues around our party. The largest part of the population of south sudan were from the gains of independence and especially the young people because of the unwillingness of the Political Party to be the Peoples Party that they claim itself to be. 73 of south sudans population is below the age of 30, according to the 2008 census. 40 between the ages of 14 and 30. And if you exclude all of this from what has been evidence in south sudan, i dont know what sort of society would like to build. Continued violence after the cpa and intensification of it in the form of this due to lateral deficits and rebellion continued all through with relative peace of the cpa. As well as attracting all agree scooted young people from the gains of independence. When you have a 14yearold after 30 years that has little to hope for or to live for in a situation where it is a militarize community, there is really no way to expects these people to live without this kind of hope or anything to invest in themselves. That exclusion is not just abstract or born of the highest expectations and assumed of the state and the willingness of leaders to take up the responsibility. The divide is real. It is visible everywhere. It has so quickly become a deeply divided society. Leaving so many people with very little investment in their lives. And it is visible everywhere in the absence of services is heartbreaking in certain situations. But the lavish expenditure in the state capitals and elsewhere is quite visible. So it is not a form of abstract this appointment assuming that the leaders were corrupt and its something that they see every day. All of this was bound to cause an explosion and it was just a matter of time. What we did not know with certainty where the with what shape does was going to take. Resembling the north african protests perhaps or more rebellion by Army Commanders and certainly there will be many of those. Or in intensity in the more familiar cybermilitia were more civil contact power within the leadership. We did not know what form it was going to take. It couldve been any one of those or a combination of these. But that was only a matter of time before it blows up. Bring the country to the brink of shattering the way that it did, dependent on how the government was going to react and manage this explosion, what it did, no matter what you call it, they avoided a mutiny or any signs of the civil war and it was poorly managed. On december the sixth when a group of leaders held a press conference and criticize the government and the president what they call these tendencies, they made a lot of they made a lot of good points about what the party should have done to govern the country. But in the state of the respondents in a manner of dialogue since we are all members of the same party, we have a letter in which we describe these people is a bunch of disgruntled leaders who have lost office. And that was the reason why. Not because of problems within their hearty and democracy within the party. Issues to deal with the corruption of people have been talking about for years having placed them as one of the most corrupt countries in the world according to various reports. Transparency international in south sudan is one of the fourth most countries in the world. Corruption is something that is very difficult to size. But to be discussed within the party is extremely crucial. And so to dismiss it as a case of people who are disgruntled and the president also gave an address at the National Liberation console does todays before the meeting and he reminded the south sudanese of the incidences with this split. And many people think that this was the wrong time and perhaps that is a sign of the management of the confrontation within the Political Party. And we know how he got here but how do we get the country out of this mess . We have to look at some of the institutions of government. The army has clapped collapsed and theres no question about it. And as we speak there are many things are still happening in our lives. And the army was put together haphazardly and is made up of [inaudible] and militias that have used to fight and sudan armed forces. And its a huge institution that is expensive to run and difficult to manage. With no shared culture and the members of the force do not have one particular thing that they subscribe to. And the result and the government has done something commendable and not as seek this with all of the leaders and absorb all of them into the army, which has a been something that has made it so huge. But that they ended up with an army that is made up of 60 one ethnic group that does not reflect the Ethnic Diversity of the country and this army cannot anymore become a National Institution with social cohesion anymore if it remains the way to today. A much deeper and broader constellation between the communities that everyone will buy into. Not the current process where the art is shipped is the leader